The Movement
Hayti Reborn-JM is not a program, but a “Movement” within the city/county of Durham. Instead of addressing community problems through either law enforcement or community involvement, we are creating a coalition of social and criminal justice organizations, along with members of the community who are eager to partner with each other and interrupt the cycle of violence and increase the health and prosperity within the community.Hayti Reborn-JM is not a program, but a “Movement” within the city/county of Durham. Instead of addressing community problems through either law enforcement or community involvement, we are creating a coalition of social and criminal justice organizations, along with members of the community who are eager to partner with each other and interrupt the cycle of violence and increase the health and prosperity within the community.
My Story
While Hayti Reborn is an obtainable vision, it cannot be wholly achieved without specifically addressing the disproportionate number of justice-involved individuals residing within the city/county of Durham, and the immediate threat of gun violence that is plaguing our neighborhoods. As a city without a substantial racial majority, Durham currently reflects the negative economic and behavioral impact of taking viable, income-earning-aged citizens out of the black community. This historic criminalization of black skin, mental illness, use of substances and poverty have led to increased interactions with the law and hindered those left behind or returning to the community (post-incarceration) from obtaining human necessities such as housing and steady employment.
These are the challenges that led to a new vision of justice and the creation of the Hayti Reborn Justice Movement (Hayti Reborn-JM). The development and addressing of a single issue often requires intervention in several interrelated areas like mental health, lack of life skills in members of the community, lack of quality mental support systems, lack of trauma care, proper guidance, and many more.
Hayti Reborn-JM is not a program, but a “Movement” within the city/county of Durham. Instead of addressing community problems through either law enforcement or community involvement, we are creating a coalition of social and criminal justice organizations, along with members of the community who are eager to partner with each other and interrupt the cycle of violence and increase the health and prosperity within the community.
Hayti Reborn-JM has submitted requests for funding with both the city and county of Durham, but instead of sitting idly by while waiting on operational dollars, we are making positive strides. On Saturday, December 4, 2021, we held our first large-scale retreat. The response was overwhelming, with attendance of over 80 community participants that included: the Mayor-Elect; officials from the Durham City Council and County Commissioners; the District Attorney, Sheriff, and other law enforcement officials; social justice advocates; and members of local business community, neighborhoods, and ex-gang members wanting to make a change.
Hayti Reborn-JM has also worked with community partners to enact a “cease fire” rally, while awaiting funding to do more extensive work.
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Most recently, Hayti Reborn is working to acquire office space in the center of Downtown Durham where there is adequate accommodations for the parent organization and justice movement to carry out all plans within this proposal.
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